The University of Warwick is celebrating 75 years of plant science research at its internationally recognised Crop Centre – the UK’s leading research facility for vegetable growers.

The Crop Centre, based at The University of Warwick’s Innovation Campus, Stratford-upon-Avon, was founded 75 years ago as the National Vegetable Research Station (NVRS) to address post-war pressure for food production.

Research has continued on the site ever since, now incorporated into the University’s School of Life Sciences (SLS).

With climate change challenging crop growth and leading to supermarket shortages, the work of the Crop Centre is as important as ever.

It continues to produce world-class research, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices for the future. It aims to equip the industry with innovative solutions, alongside providing a leading training and education facility.

Professor Rosemary Collier, SLS, University of Warwick: “Warwick Crop Centre is home to both the UK Vegetable Gene Bank, which is a globally important collection of natural genetic variation, and the UK’s Vegetable Genetic Improvement Network (VeGIN) which makes this genetic information available to breeding companies.

“Other research priorities include providing sustainable solutions to pest and disease control for fresh produce growers. We are also committed to raising awareness of our work in the community, by hosting briefings in the shape of popular webinars.”

A newly announced initiative is Warwick Agri-Tech, which combines the Crop Centre’s expertise in life sciences with world class engineering at WMG at The University of Warwick. This will drive the development of technologies that are needed to support the future of agriculture.

Alicia Feledziak, Business Development Manager for Warwick Agri-Tech, said: “Warwick Agri-tech’s great strength is its ability to transfer WMG’s advanced engineering capabilities in automation, robotics and AI systems, which have been developed through decades of working with industry in sectors like Aerospace, Automotive and Rail, into the agricultural sector. Together with the School of Life Sciences, we are able to move these technologies out of ordered factories and into the ever-changing and often harsh environments of agriculture.

“Our goal is to de-risk innovation for industry, to support the development of a sustainable and resilient food system. We are excited to be working closely with growers, technology developers and government to drive change for the industry.”

The Crop Centre will also pioneer genetic breeding, which will enable new varieties of fresh vegetable crops to be bred that are adapted to the changing climate and changing technologies.

Professor Richard Napier, SLS, University of Warwick, added: “We’re working for the next generation. Our research is de-risking crop production as we adapt to climate change, our education is equipping young people with practical knowledge about the challenges. We are providing the industry with a new generation of critical thinkers able to help solve the problems of the future.”

23 July 2024